Ancestors Silhouetted by the Sun [SOLD]

There was a period in the 1970s and 80s when Namingha painted images of katsinas, Hopi landscapes, pueblo dances, and spiritual subjects.  This painting of Hopi Ancestors is typical of his work from that period.  It was painted in the late 1970s according to Niman Gallery.  Of course, the Ancestors are Katsinas.  They are presented in a modern Picasso-like manner.   This is an excellent example of his work from that time.

Dan Namingha (1950- ) is from the Hopi-Tewa village of First Mesa.  He is a member of the famous Nampeyo family.  His mother is Dextra Nampeyo and his grandmother was Rachel Namingha Nampeyo. He was born in 1950 and attended High School at Keams Canyon, Arizona, the University of Kansas and then the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe where he came under the influence of Otellie Loloma who encouraged him to experiment with his art.  He began his art career painting in realistic style and then, around 1972, began to paint in a more abstract manner. Teachers at IAIA, such as Otellie Loloma, Allan Houser, and Fritz Scholder, encouraged the students to expand their horizons and paint creatively, which many did.

Condition: appears to be in original condition

Provenance: this painting, entitled Ancestors Silhouetted by the Sun, is from a private collection

Recommended Reading: Namingha – Timeless Land and Enduring Images, Palm Springs Desert Museum exhibit September 17 – November 10, 1991